[GOODYEAR TIRES] Part 1

Description

The original catalog description provided by the Ford Motor Company reads as follows: “Balance.” Car driving down road. “Proper balance of the tire and front wheel assembly is essential to smooth operation.” Car driving down road. “Note how smoothly this car operates on Goodyear Airwheels at high speeds up to 80 miles per hour.” Car on road. “At high speeds unbalanced wheel and tire assemblies may result in tramp.” “These low-pressure tires were deliberately unbalanced to demonstrate tramp.” Car on road. “Unbalanced spots in wheel assemblies ‘throw’ the tire and axle upward.” Car on road. “Two ‘heavy’ points in opposite wheels work together to give the rapid up-and-down motion of the axle known as ‘tramp.’” Car on road. “Tramp transmits itself to the steering wheel as an annoying jiggle and to the radiator as a rapid sidewise vibration, as you will see later.” Car on road. “Slow motion picture of the same car traveling at 60 miles per hour.” Car on road. “Watch hub cap for up-and-down motion.” Car on road. “How tramp looks from a passing car.” Car passing other car, close-up of left front wheel. “Slow motion picture of same run. Observe how ‘throw’ of wheel is transmitted to axle, radius rod and hood.” Close-up of wobbly front wheel. “Note wracking of Pittman arm -- where tramp’ is transmitted to steering wheel.” Wobbly front wheel. “How tramp appears to the driver.” View from driver’s seat, wobbly hood. “Competitive tires do not have the inbuilt balance of Goodyear’s and therefore tramp is more commonly present.” Fender-less car on road, wobbly front tires. “Core built tires like these often have uneven distribution of material which is one common cause of unbalanced weight.” Fender-less car on road - close-up of wobbly front wheel. “Result of extreme tramp in steering wheel.” View of wobbly steering wheel. “Goodyear’s drum built tires ensure even distribution of rubber and fabric and, therefore, of weight. How’s this for smooth operation?” Car on road, close-up of front tire. “When wheel assemblies get out of balance the correction is very simple.” View of wheel balancing tools in garage. “Here’s how you can do it on a Weaver wheel balancing stand. The tire used is inflated to regular pressure.” Man placing tire on stand. “‘Heavy’ part of wheel turns to bottom. The ‘light’ point opposite is chalked.” Man marking tire. “These little weights do the trick.” Man placing weights on tire. “They attach to the rim.” Man attaching weights to rim. “Balance is secured by using two weights placed equidistant from the chalk mark on the ‘light’ spot.” Close-up of wheel. “This first position is tried for balance.” Tire on stand. “Rotate -- If the chalk mark still turns up, the weights are too far apart.” Tire on stand, man removing weights, replacing them. “If the chalk marks turn down, the weights are too near together.” Man adjusting tire on stand. “Adjust until correct, always keeping weights equidistant from chalk mark.” Man replacing weights on tire. “This is what you get - the wheel will stay in any position.” Tire on stand, man removing tire from stand. “Over the hills at the speed of the wind in perfect ‘pillowy’ comfort on Goodyear Airwheels.” Car on road. Balance. [1933]

Collection

Ford Motor Company Collection

Series

Motion Picture Films Relating to the Ford Motor Company, the Henry Ford Family, Noted Personalities, Industry, and Numerous Americana and Other Subjects